Colic and Unsettled Babies
Colic and unsettled babies: when the nervous system can’t switch off
Few things are as exhausting or distressing as an unsettled baby. Long periods of crying, drawing the legs up, a tense little body, difficulty feeding or settling, and parents feeling helpless despite trying everything.
Colic is often talked about as a digestive problem, but in most cases, the gut itself isn’t the root issue. What we often see instead is a nervous system that’s stuck in a heightened state of alert.
When a baby is in fight or flight, digestion simply isn’t a priority. The nervous system diverts energy away from the gut and into survival - slowing the digestive system, leading to gas, bloating, and discomfort.
This is why colicky babies often appear tense, have difficulty sleeping, arch their backs, clench their fists, and struggle to settle even when fed and held.
For many babies, birth is the biggest physical stress their body has experienced. Even straightforward births can place strain on a baby’s head, neck, and nervous system. Add in prenatal stress, bright lights, noise, handling, and frequent stimulation after birth, and some nervous systems simply struggle to switch off.
When the nervous system can’t settle, the body stays in protection mode. Crying becomes the only way a baby can express that something doesn’t feel right.
A nervous system perspective on colic
Rather than trying to fix the gut, we focus on helping the nervous system feel safe enough to regulate. When the system calms, digestion has the opportunity to improve naturally.
In our practice, we assess nervous system function using INSiGHT neurological scanning, to help us understand how a baby’s nervous system is coping with stress and stimulation.
Chiropractic care for babies is extremely gentle. There is no cracking or force involved. Care focuses on supporting nervous system organisation and easing patterns of tension that may have come from birth or early stress.
Colic and unsettled babies are something we support many families with, and you will be in safe, experienced hands. Alongside gentle care, we offer practical guidance to support your baby’s nervous system at home.
As the nervous system calms, many babies find it easier to digest, feed, and relax. For parents, this often brings reassurance, confidence, and much-needed relief.
References:
Holm, L. V., Jarbøl, D. E., Christensen, H. W., Søndergaard, J., & Hestbæk, L. (2021). The effect of chiropractic care on infantile colic: results from a single-blind randomised controlled trial. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 29(1), 15.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8054384/
Hoeve, J. (2021). Clinical evidence of vestibular dysregulation in colicky babies before and after chiropractic treatment vs. non-colicky babies. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 9, Article 668457.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.668457/full
Case Series: Chiropractic Management of Infantile Colic. (2004). Two infant cases with complete resolution of colic and associated symptoms following chiropractic treatment. Clinical Chiropractic, 7(4), 180-186.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clch.2004.02.003
